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Public Safety GO Bond

Background

On July 15, 2010, City Council approved Resolution #36800 to refer a measure to Portland voters authorizing the issuance of General Obligation (GO) bonds up to the amount of $72,400,000 to provide funding for the replacement of aging fire and emergency response vehicles, to finance the construction of a fire station and an emergency response center, and provide funding for a public safety emergency radio system. On November 2, 2010 voters approved the public safety GO bond measure, titled Measure 26-117.

The City provided a proposal which summarized the key elements for the four projects: apparatus replacement, fire station construction, an emergency response center, and the Public Safety Emergency Radio System replacement. The proposal also provided information on the financing plan and estimated taxpayer impacts. As required by the Council resolution, each City Council member appointed a citizen to to serve on the Independent Citizen Committee for a total of five members.

The proposed oversight structure calls for three Project Oversight Committees that provide reports to the Independent Citizen Committee: Portland Fire and Rescue, Public Safety System Revitalization Project (PSSRP), and Emergency Response (POEM). Each bureau provides staff support to their respective Project Oversight Committee and the Office of Management and Finance provides staff support to the Independent Citizen Committee.